49ers' Deebo Samuel looks in peak condition ahead of potentially even more important role in 2024

Veterans don't report for the start of training camp for the San Francisco 49ers until July 23.

But star wide receiver Deebo Samuel looks ready for the 2024 season to start right now.

Samuel is spending the dead period working out at EXOS Sports. On Monday, EXOS' pro elite performance strength and speed coach Nicholas Hill posted a video to his Instagram story, which featured both Samuel and close friend Xavier Legette, this year's first-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, testing their speed to the limit on the treadmill.

Judging by his efforts, Samuel is in excellent shape ahead of a season in which he will look to help the 49ers go one better after their Super Bowl heartbreak in February.

After a 2022 season that he described as "sluggish", Samuel continued to play second fiddle to Brandon Aiyuk in the 49ers' wide receiver room in 2023, though he did still finish with 1,117 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns.

However, with Aiyuk still in the middle of a lengthy negotiation over a long-term contract extension, Samuel could find himself as the leading man among the wideouts in 2024.

There appears little doubt that Aiyuk will be on the 49ers in 2024 despite persistent trade chatter. There's no incentive for Aiyuk to miss the season even if he does not come to terms on a long-term deal with the Niners.

But both Samuel and defensive end Nick Bosa have conceded that their contract negotiations with the 49ers in 2022 and 2023 respectively had a negative impact on their play in the subsequent season. Aiyuk has already admitted he is taking negotiations with the 49ers "personal".

As such it is easy to see Aiyuk struggling to put this long saga behind him and enduring a dip from the level of play that saw him named second-team All-Pro in 2023.

If that happens, there will be significant onus on Samuel to pick up the slack and produce his best season since his remarkable first-team All-Pro campaign of 2021.

It's one video on a treadmill, and Samuel still needs to prepare his body for the physical toll of the season by going through the rigours of training camp. However, with camp still three weeks away, it's sufficient evidence to suggest Samuel is in the physical condition necessary to step up and carry the bulk of the load for the passing game.

Related: PFF's ranking of San Francisco 49ers' offensive line features some very misplaced criticism